Met awaits 'kettling' appeal ruling

The Metropolitan Police will learn whether they have won their appeal against a High Court ruling over "kettling" tactics used during the G20 demonstrations in 2009.

The ruling, after officers were said to have used "unjustified force", led to a call from human rights lawyers for an "immediate change to police attitudes and tactics".

The decision did not outlaw kettling, when demonstrators are contained or corralled inside police cordons and prevented from leaving, but the police expressed concern when the High Court handed down judgment in April last year. They said that its adverse findings could have an impact on their ability "to prevent disorder within protests".

Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls, sitting in the Court of Appeal with Lord Justice Hughes and Lord Justice Sullivan, will decide whether the High Court was right on the law.

The ruling was won by Hannah McClure, a student, and Josh Moos, a campaigner for Plane Stupid, who challenged the legality of "violent" restraint methods used against them when they were contained by officers at the Camp for Climate Action in Bishopsgate in the City of London on April 1, 2009.

It was the same day newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson died after being struck by a police officer at a separate G20 protest at the nearby Royal Exchange.

The police said the extended kettling was necessary to keep violent demonstrators at the Royal Exchange from "hijacking" the more peaceful climate camp, attended by up to 5,000 people.

Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger will rule on 'kettling' tactics

The High Court ruled that there had been no evidence of an imminent breach of the peace to justify the kettle, when a tight police cordon was thrown round the climate camp demonstrators from just after 7pm for more than four hours.

The judges criticised "unduly inflexible" arrangements for releasing people. Mr Moos said he became dehydrated after being refused permission to leave. The judges specifically condemned the police over the way officers armed with batons and riot shields pushed a 15-deep crowd of demonstrators back 20 to 30 metres. Sir Anthony May, president of the Queen's Bench Division, and Mr Justice Sweeney agreed that "unjustified force" had been used.

When the Metropolitan Police Service announced an appeal they made it clear the judgment did not outlaw kettling, and containment tactics would continue to be used "to prevent serious disorder and violence".

©Press Association